Poonch, Sep 7: Asserting that Peoples Democratic Party would fight for the ‘internal Azadi’ of Jammu and Kashmir, party patron and former chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Wednesday said New Delhi has turned deaf ears to the situation of the state.
Addressing an impressive public rally at Parade Ground in this border town, Mufti said, “We don’t challenge the sovereignty of the country, but we will fight for the restoration of internal freedom. Our self rule formula provides freedom within the constitutional frame work.”
Asking Government of India and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to do justice with Kashmiris, the PDP patron said the need of the hour was to initiate steps leading towards the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“Peace process is irreversible, but we have seen some ears of New Delhi are deaf towards the situation of the past three years,” he said.
Mufti said, “It is unfortunate that no major Confidence Building Measures related to Kashmir were taken by India and Pakistan at Foreign Ministry level talks in New Delhi. And even the CBMs decided there have not been implemented on the ground.”
Accusing State Government of handing over the control of Jammu and Kashmir Bank to Reserve Bank of India, Mufti demanded forthwith returning of the sovereignty of the premier banking institution to the state.
“Our water resources and power projects should also be returned as they are vital for our self-reliance and economic independence,” he said.
Mufti said Pakistan government provides passports to every Kashmiri living on other side of Line of Control, but here government denies passport even to the Haj pilgrims whose far-off relatives had connection with militancy.
“We have also grievance with Pakistan that they don’t clear the visa and travel permit cases of the people who want to visit there,” he added.
Expressing concern over the alleged human rights violations in Valley, Mufti said continuous cycle of abuses was deteriorating the atmosphere for the resolution of Kashmir issue. “The situation of the past three years and incidents like Bomai, Shopain, Sopore custodial killing and discovery of unmarked graves vitiates atmosphere for the resolution of Kashmir issue,” he said.
Questioning the functioning of the National Conference led government, Mufti said the Cabinet Committee on Security last year pointed out to the governance deficit of the present dispensation.
“It took them three years to form the State Accountability Commission and State Information Commission and even SIC is still incomplete,” he added.
Asking for full empowerment of Panchayati Raj institutions in the state, Mufti said, “Our Sarpanchs and Panchs are not beggars and PDP’s stand is that they should be vested with full powers immediately.”
“We recently sent a team of legislators to Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh to study the powers of Panchayats existing there,” he added.
Mufti also said after 1947 India and Pakistan achieved freedom ‘but Kashmir was caged and democracy was strangulated here.’
Mufti said before 2002 there was no demand for roads, development or jobs in the state. “Only thing masses wanted was sense of security. During our tenure, people heaved sigh of relief from terror of Special Task Force and other security agencies. We released all detainees and tried to strengthen relations between India and Pakistan. New Delhi held dialogue with separatists and Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes were opened,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST